Seekers of Sneakers: California Meat Plant Shooting

LOS ANGELES, CA – A former convict Lawrence Jones took the lives of two coworkers and his own early Tuesday morning at a meat plant. Officials say Jones pulled out a handgun and began shooting his coworkers execution style in the head at close range. Then he walked outside and pulled the trigger on himself. The Fresno police department says motives at this point are unclear but they believe the shooting was was premeditated.

Four people mourn ver the tragedy in Fresno. Craig Kohlruss/The Fresno Bee

"It appears, based on his actions, that he was selective in terms of who he was shooting because there were other employees present that he could have shot but chose not to," said Police Chief Jerry Dyer.

With the noise inside the plantand the fact that many employees wear earplugs while working its assumed that many shots were fired before most workers were aware.

Officials believe the first victim was Salvador Diaz, 32, who was pronounced dead at the scene with a single shot to his head. After that they suspect he made his way over to Manuel Verdin whom he shot in the head killing him instantly. Jones then put a gun to the back of Arnulfo Conrriquez’s neck and shot him. Conrriquez is currently in critical condition.

Employee Fatima Lopez witnessed Jones shooting fellow employees. He then turned to her shooting her in the buttocks as she ran away. The last and final co-worker approached was the luckiest because when Jones pulled the gun out to fire it was empty. Moments later Jones walked outside and allegedly committed suicide. Verdin and Jones were rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead soon after. Lopez is expected to recover soon. Officials will search for clues leading to a mental problem with him.

Criminal justice major Camesha Jones says that she becomes shocked every time she see senseless killings like this on the news. "I still dont understand what could set someone off that much they would ever do something like this." said Camesha Jones

"It's a sad reality that in todays world you never know who you can trust or who is going to do what. You never know whats going on in someone's life when you see them." said Andre Brown a Psychology major.